Should I buy a Bentley?

[Junkman]

If I could, I would, but I can't so I never will.

 

Never ever say never. I always wanted a '61 Imperial, but "I'll never have one". Then I had one. Then two. Then three. Then eleven 1957 - 1963 Imperials. Life can change quicker than you think. Der Teufel ist ein Eichkatzerl - the devil is a squirrel, as we say in .at.

 

@OP:

 

At last year's Tatton Park, there was a Turbo R for sale, that made me fold my hands on my back and clack my heels together. It was in this beautiful bottle green metallic, with sand coloured leather, green piping, and bird's eye maple. The car was totally unmessed with and in truly stunning condition inside out, and underneath. No matter where you looked, there was not a mark, not a dent, not a scratch, not a stain, not a bubble, nothing. Nada. Nix. Rien. Zilch. There were five new Fulda Z-rated tyres on it, the spare still had the sticker on the cap of the tyre.

 

The asking price was 12,500, and I bet you anything, that towards the end of the show, 10 bags cash would have bought it.

I'm an avowed Turbo-R-ophile myself, and out of the sea of miserable snot I've seen the past decade or so, this one would have been the one to buy.

[Pete-M]

I spent a few months looking after a 12k mile 93 Turbo R. The active ride floor change job. Ace car.

 

I drove it back to Liverpool from Oldham once in a bit of a hurry. Nothing I've driven before or since clears the fast lane like a charging Turbo R. It's almost spooky, I felt like the Moses of the M62.

 

I was in a Corniche Convertible a few months ago - àn early series 2. That was a fun thing but not the same without the turbo engine.

 

If you're ever gonna buy a Bentley make it the EFi Turbo R with active suspension and the floor change box. The non turbo early ones fell like a Mk2 Granada GL in comparison.

[xtriple]

Never ever say never. I always wanted a '61 Imperial, but "I'll never have one". Then I had one. Then two. Then three. Then eleven 1957 - 1963 Imperials. Life can change quicker than you think. Der Teufel ist ein Eichkatzerl - the devil is a squirrel, as we say in .at.

 

@OP:

 

At last year's Tatton Park, there was a Turbo R for sale, that made me fold my hands on my back and clack my heels together. It was in this beautiful bottle green metallic, with sand coloured leather, green piping, and bird's eye maple. The car was totally unmessed with and in truly stunning condition inside out, and underneath. No matter where you looked, there was not a mark, not a dent, not a scratch, not a stain, not a bubble, nothing. Nada. Nix. Rien. Zilch. There were five new Fulda Z-rated tyres on it, the spare still had the sticker on the cap of the tyre.

 

The asking price was 12,500, and I bet you anything, that towards the end of the show, 10 bags cash would have bought it.

I'm an avowed Turbo-R-ophile myself, and out of the sea of miserable snot I've seen the past decade or so, this one would have been the one to buy.

Now that's the car I'd like to find, apart from the colour and the birds eye maple, not a fan of green or the light wood! The one linked above is lovely, nice colour inside and out, but I don't like chrome grills. I think, if I'm going to treat myself (and I reckon I am) then get the car I REALLY want, so no green, no light wood, no chrome grill....

 

Problem seems to be that so many of these cars are in dealers. I'd prefer to buy from a private guy (or gal) that's had it for years and knows its history and has been fastidious in its upkeep. Of course, having said all that, I'll end up with a green Brooklands with birds eye maple bought from a dealer who couldn't care less!

[Junkman]

Just remain patient. The right car for you will come along.

[Junkman]

I was in a Corniche Convertible a few months ago - àn early series 2. That was a fun thing but not the same without the turbo engine.

 

The non-turbo sure has adequate power. But the turbo has adequate power, plus 50%. And that makes all the difference.

[STUNO]

Yes

This happened to a great aunt of mine. Her serious arthritis mostly went away so she said "I have always wanted a Rolls" and bought a Shadow. She had few good years before the thing came back and she was bedridden. The Rolls was looked after until she died, and she was taken for a ride whenever it was possible.

Just owning it was the best fun she had in her later years.

She asked me if I wanted it shortly before she died, but I was penniless and jobless, it was hard to say no!

[Junkman]

If you don't have the funds, just buy a P6 V8.

I so happen to know, that it's just a scaled down version. That's good enough for me.

I also know people don't believe me, but since when do I care about that?

[Pete-M]

I've had two P6 V8s. Grew up with them. My dad probably had 400 of them over the years. I said my first words in NFF355K, a P6 V8.

 

Much as I love the P6b I'd say it's closer to a Silver Shadow than an active Turbo R. The Big Bentley Turbo really is an astonishingly capable thing in ways the P6 isn't. That's what I'd pay the extra for.

[Junkman]

You nailed it. A turbo Bentley is a P6 V8 on steroids. Worth every penny extra.

But there we are. If you can't afford it, the P6 V8 is the next best thing at Poundland price.

[Noel Tidybeard]

funds permitting look for a turbo rt with 400 horses

[Sudsprint]

Go for it.

[cort16]

I'd got for an early brown silver shadow. Exactly like this

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1969-ROLLS-ROYCE-SILVER-SHADOW-/271484207110?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item3f35b84006

[SambaS]

Definitely !

[Pete-M]

A friend of mine fitted the turbo R engine and box to a very early Shadow.

 

Went like stink but used to rip the diff from its mountings if you power slid it too much. Great fun.

[xtriple]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/58602139@N03/

 

Pictures of the 95 BTR I'm seriously thinking about. O got offered it from a chap on pistonheads, £10250 to buy in Jan this year and £11000 on servicing (including the all important hydraulic service) since! It seems like a nice old lass and has added wood inserts in the doors by Hoopers, all new Avon tyres and it's not the very last of the line with 400hp that tend to blow Head gaskets. This should be about 350-380 hp but 650 ft/lb torque. I like the car, love the colour and interior, love its history (recent)...

 

BUT, I don't know how much he wants for it!

[Rusty_Rocket]

God, that thing is fantastic. JUST LOOK AT IT!!!!

Get it bought man 

[gordonbennet]

Agreed, lovely car but sod me, £11k in servicing since January.

 

Whilst i'd love an Arnage i couldn't justify spending that sort of loot on maintenance.

[Justin Case]

Go for it, you only live once (says the man who chose a  Mazda 6 over a Maserati Quattroporte IV even though it was £4 more)

[jonny69]

But that's the spending done on it now, isn't it, and now it's just fuel and oil?

 

Or am I being completely naive?

[Cavcraft]

now it's just fuel lol

 

EFA

 

 

 

 

That is one fine car, youd be mad not to buy it.

[eddyramrod]

Buy that, and watch me turn Kermit-green with envy.  And you absolutely HAVE to show up at a Shitefest in it!

[xtriple]

I'm seriously talking myself into it! Decided that if he offers it to me for 'X' then I'll just buy it. If however, it's 'X+Y' then I'll have to think about it, if it's 'X+NY' then he can bollox!

 

If (when I get one) I buy it, I will definitely come to shitefest in, complete with two dogs and a tent!

[barefoot]

I once saw an elderly Shadow on a caravan club site with a tow bar and a small caravan.

[rml2345]

"Should I buy a Bentley?"

 

Yes. Yes you should buy a Bentley. Buy that one actually as it looks lovely.

There's not a single thing that could possibly go wrong.

[dome]

That looks lovely. Put me down for number 4 for £15 when you come to auction it...

[xtriple]

Still waiting for a price!

 

Dreading what the chap is going to say to be honest. I WANT it in a foot stamping throwing toys out of pram type way.  I have nowhere to park it, and it's going to look bloody scruffy with dog nose prints all over the back windows and rugs and blankets all over the back seats to protect them from little fat dogs paws.

 

I think I'm insane.

 

Still....

[spike60]

Total extravagance. If you can, do it.

[Skizzer]

If you fill that with dog blankets and little wet nose prints you will definitely pass for a 100% authentic old money nutter. Brilliant.

 

Even if this one turns out not to be the one, you have to follow your dream on this.

[xtriple]

Well finally got a price off the chap. He wants £16500 for it. I think that's too much to be honest. I can buy a newer one with less miles and the Zytec management and even MORE power for the same or less.

 

I shall have words with him....

 

In related matters, I have enquired about several others as I'm quite serious now as you are a long time dead, and there seems to be the same amount of mongs selling Bentleys as there are 'lesser' cars.

 

E-mailed loads of dealers, none of them have replied...

 

E-mailed a guy in Penzance about a '91 in green (don't like the colour but a lot of them are green...) that's on eBay. He wrote back in broken English that I could have it for £6500 (advertised as he'll take £7500) straight away. No tax and the MOT expires on the 23rd of this month.... er, no thanks!

 

E-mailed about a RR Spirit that's in Torquay (so am I) that looks really nice. I wanted to see it over the weekend but he couldn't be contacted until weekdays, turns out it's had no servicing in the last four years, but that's okay 'cos it's done bugger all mileage! Er, no thanks!

 

While I have no intention of buying a car then moving it on quickly... this is a 'keeper'... I don't want to overpay or buy a load of trouble. A bad Bentley is a LOAD of trouble!

[eddyramrod]

I call that a good sensible attitude.  Er, to buying an old Bentley as your daily driver dog kennel....    Number 16 for me please, when the time comes.